Improved washing-machine



Nrrnn STATES IMPROVED WASHING-MACHINE.

Y Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 40,52 l dated December 8, 1863.

To all whom, it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, ADAMS R. COOPER, of Mason City, in the county of Mason and State Illinois, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinWashingMaehines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompany drawings, which make part of this speciication, and in which-- Figure 1 represents a View in perspective of a washing-machine embracing my improvements,and Fig.2 a vertical longitudinal section through the same.

In washing by machinery it is important that the clothes be well boiled after undergoing the rubbing process; that they be washed in water of a temperature nearly uniform, and that they be alternately7 pressed and rubbed, while at the same time the least possible injury be done to the goods.

It is the object of my invention to accomplish these results; and to this end my improvements consist, first, in so combining a furnace, a boiler, and a washing mechanism that the articles to be cleansed may be boiled in one compartment and washed in another, while at the same time the water in the wash-tub may be heated to any desired temperature, which temperature may be regulated at the pleasure of the attendant; secondly, in mounting the upper rubbing and squeezing` rollers in an independent selfadjusting sketeton frame, which presses down the articles while being washed, and yet readily yields to permit the passage of articles of varying thickness or bulk; thirdly, in so combining a series of three or more corrugated or grooved rollers having differential motions of revolution with a series of corrugated or grooved rollers havinga uniform motion and carrying an endless belt or apron over a fixed board placed centrally between them, that the goods may be effectually squeezed and rubbed in passing through the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, the machine is represented as consisting mainly of a stout frame or casing, A, resting on suitable supports, a, and inclosing a trough or wash-tub, B, having a bottom, C, of any suitable metal. If iron be used,it should be galvanized or coated with zinc or tin, to prevent its oxidation and the consequent staining of the goods. Two

corrugated or toothed rollers, b b', are mounted in suitable bearings in the trough at such adistance a part as to permit of the introduction of a smooth or corrugated board, c, between them, the upper surface of the board being slightly below a plane passing over the upper surface of the rollers I) b, which carry an endless belt,d, of. cloth,hair,wool,or other fibrous material over the board c., and in contact with it when the clothes are passing through the rollers.

The trough is divided into two compartments by a partition, e, so as to have a space, D, in which to boil the clothes after washing them.

The upper rubbing and squeezing rollers are mounted in an independent selfadjusting skeleton frame, E, which rests upon the top of the frame A. The rollers f IL gear into the lower' rollers, b b,while roller g rests above the board c. The roller f has a pulley, k 7c', at each end of its journal on the outside of the frame, and the rollers g and 7L have pulleys m and n on one outer end of their respective journals. The roller f is turned by a crank, fi, or other suitable means, and on the same side of the machine with it is placed the pulley n of the roller h. The pulleys k and a are of the same diameter, and have each the same number of teeth. These teeth gear into the open links of an endless chain by which they are connected.4 They must, therefore, necessarily have the same number of rotations each in any given time with the crank t'. The pulley m of roller g is smaller or has fewer teeth than the toothed pulley 7c,with which it is coupled, and of course the roller g will have more revolutions in any given time than the crank It is obvious that these rotary movements may be imparted to the rollers fg h by gearing or bands as mere equivalents.

A suitable furnace, o, is arranged beneath the boiler D, and is provided with a flue, F, which runs the whole length of the machine, the bottom C of the tub forming the top of the iiue. A partition, p, is arranged cross the entrance of this iiue, leaving, however, sufficient space for the escape of the products of combustion. An aperture for the escape of these products into a chimney is `formed in the rear end of the case, nearly central with which opening a damper or lifting-valve,G, is piv- 2 @meer oted. This damper is nearly as Wide as the flue, and extends forward so that its front edge rests on the partition p, and is opened or closed by a crank or lifting-lever, y.

The operation of the machine is as follows: A fire is kindled in the furnace and the clothes well rubbed by passing through the rollers before being boiled. /Vhen it is desired to heat the water in the Wash-tub B, the damper G is allowed to rest upon the partition p. The products of combustion will then pass through the iiue in immediate contact with the bottom C of the tub to the smoke -pipe, thus heating the Water. Vhen sufficienti y heated, the damper is lifted by turning the crank q (as shown in red lines in Fig. 2) until its front edge touches the bottom of the tub. The products of combustion then pass under the damper to the smoke-pipe Without increasing the temperature of the Water in the tub B. Before being boiled the clothes are passed through the rollers in the Washing-compartment. Turning the crank z' rotates rollers f and l1., which rotate rollers b b, and the apron d, which carries the goods to be Washed between these rollers wherethey are pressed upon by the full Weight of the frame E and the rollers it carries. .When the goods come between roller g and plank c, they receive a rubbing motion derived from the more rapid rotation of roller g. rIhe goods are thus alternately pressed and rubbed until thoroughly cleansed; and this result Will follow, Whichever Way the crank t' may be turned. The skeleton frame and rollers rise and fall to suit the varying thickness of the articles passing through the rollers, and thus avoid inj uring the clothes.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. rIhe combination of the furnace, the boiler, and the washing mechanism, substantially in the manner described, for the purposes set forth.

2. Mounting the upper rubbing and squeezing rollers in an independent skeleton frame, substantially in the manner` described, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of three or more rollers having a differential motion with two or more rollers carrying an endless apron over a board between them, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name.

ADAMS R. COOPER. lVitnesses:

QUINTUs ORENDORFF, JOHN IRI'rcI-IET. 

